Partitioned inflatable suit



July 23, 1946.

R. s. COLLEY PARTITIONED INFLATABLE SUIT Filed Aug. 20, 1942 Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATE PARTITIONED INFLATABLE SUIT Russell S; Colley, Kent, Ohidassignor to The B.-

F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y.; a corporatio'n of New York Application Aug st. 20, 1942. Serial No. 4 55,5"1 1.

This invention relates to partitioned hollow structures and especially to partitioned. inflatable sui s.

Use of an inflatable suit equipped with a headpiece having a transparent wall portion or window structure is affected adversely by fogging of the window during flight in the region of the stratosphere. This phenomenon results, from, the factv that the air within. the inflatable suit contains any appreciable quantity. of water vapor which condenses and. usually also freezes upon. the inner surface. of the transparent wall. portion or window of the headpiece. The. resultant obscuration of the vision of the wearer isundesirable, and constitutes a definite hazard.

.Objects of the invention areto provide for dividing one part of a hollow structure from, another, whileproviding for transmitting fluid, or electrical energy, or both from one part. to another; and to. provide for admitting a memberthrough an, opening in. a partition in substantiallysealing relation.

Further objects are to. provide means for join ing a pair of hollow structures while substantial- 1y isolating the space within each of the respec-. tive structures, yet permitting the transmission of fluid from one structure to the other; to provide means for separating the spaces while embracing an element therein in'substantiallysealing relation; and to provide for simplicity of construction, ease of manufacture','and efiectiveness of operation. l

Specific objects of my invention are to provide for dividing an inflatable suit'into upper and lower portions, while permitting the passage of fluid, or electrical energy, or both from one portion to the other; to provide for admitting a portion of the body of the wearer through a diaphragm in substantially sealing relation and Without discomfort to the wearer; to provide, for substantially isolating the space within the torso portion of the suit from the. space within the headpiece, while admitting. the. head of, the wearer into the headpiece; and to. provide for preventing. fogging of the headpiece,

These and other objects and. advantage of the invention will be apparent from the following description: V v i In the accompanying, drawing, whichrforms a part of this specification, and in. which like. numerals: are employed to desi nate. like Parts throughoutthesarneb l v I Fig. 1 is av-iew in perspective; of the upper. part. f.v on inflatable suit. including, a headpiece and.

Claims. (o1.12s-144) torso portion constructed in accordance sealingelement'zfl and whichisheld in position by a clamping ring 21, thereby providing fora.

with and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2. is a View taken along line 2-2 of parts being in section and broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view taken along. line 3 -3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a view taken along line 4.4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is, a View taken along line 5- 5 of Fig. 2,- broken lines indicating the neck of the wearer, andv Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 5 but showing a mo de ified construction.

In the embodiment of theinvention as illus trated in the drawing, obscuration of the vision of the wearer of an inflatable suit' l0 including a headpiece II is prevented effectively and conveniently'with a minimum of; discomfort. to the wearer. As shownv in Fig. I, the headpiece l'l' and a torso portion," of. the suit 10 are secured to a ring structure l3 in a manner hereinafterdescribed', and. a partition or diaphragm f4 is-sel-v cured to the ring structure l3. Suitablecondui-ts and conductors in apertures in the diaphragm. l4 permit conducting fluids, such as air and oxygen, and. electrical energy vfrom. the torso portion lfZ to the headpiece l l- A'check valve 15 is provided ,for maintaining the pressure within the headpiece! I substantially equivalent to the pressurewith-in the torso portion I2, of the suit and isin the open position so long as such a pressure con- 'ditiOnpreyail's-L' Inthe, partition 14 an o ix'e r i t l6 having a reinforced margin I! permits admitting the head oflhe wearer therethroughj .and the 6, as hereinafter more fully described.

The headpiece H is made, preferably although. not necessarily, globular in form. andmaybe made of a suitable transparent plastic, such as amethyl methacrylate resin. or glass material having the desired physical and optical properties.

As shown in Figs... 3 and 4, the. opening-in the headpiece H- is bounded by an outwardlycurvedflange portion. l8, which is adapted to se'at against a metal ring 19 while being in contact with alipfiuid-tight joint.

Preferably, the ring I9 is made of aluminurnor.

magnesium alloy forlight. weight; and the lip.- sealing element 2 is made of a suitable resilient rubber-like or other material; and the clamping ring .21 may be madeof stainless steel.

clamping ring is divided and is radially extensible and; oontractible within the confines of an annuinvention.

lar groove 22 in the metal ring l9. End 23 and 24 of the ring 2| as shown in'Fig. 2, are interconnectedby a toggle fastener 25, which is illustrated in the released position for purposes of clarity, the clamping ring 2 I, however, being shown in the lockedcondition.

The wall of the torso portion l2; which may, be

made of woven fabric impregnated or coated with a suitable rubber-like or other suitable impere vious material, is attached to themetal ring IQ in the manner shown in .Figs. 3 and 4. ,An annular element 26, which is trapezoidal insection in the region of approximately forward visual observation.- M

Accordingly, a channel 52 in the ring 8, which is covered by a suitable metal plate 53 secured ;t'othe ring by screw'fastener's 55, and which is inv communication with the conduit fill and the and which may be made of a resilient rubber-like.

material, preferably covered or otherwise suitably reinforced as by fabric, is disposed in a similarly shaped annular groove 27 in theouter faceof the ring I9. A divided clamping band 28, which may be made, for example, of steel strip stock and 'which'is equipped with apivotally mounted toggle fastener structure 29, i disposed adjacent the an nular element 26 and is in'c'as'ed i'na fabric sheath 30, which is securedto the exterior surface of the torso wall l2 as byla suitable adhesive, or bysewing, or both. a e

When the toggle fastener structure 29 is in the closedposition, as shown in Fig. 2,,the clamping band28 presses thewall of the torso portion l2 against the annular element 26 and presses the latter-inwardly into the groove 21. Also the band 28'maintains the upper part of thewall l 2 in contact with a lip-sealing member 3| disposed and secured in an undercut circumferential groove 32 inthe ringISL- Y e For separating the space within the torso portion [2 .fromthe space .within the headpiecev II.-

the partition or diaphragm l4 of stretchable rub} ber-like material or other suitable material is attachedto and supported by the metal ring l9, 1 at thelower face thereof, as shown especially in Figsk3 and 4. Preferably, the partition [.4 is a thin rubberlsheet, circular in form, with a pluralityf of spaced-apartaperturesin the rim portion for admitting screw fasteners 35, andhas an openingllfiv with a reinforced or beaded margin ll,fwhi'ch is adaptedtofit snugly and conform to the neck contour, yet not tightly enough to cause discomfort-to the wearer.. wedge-shaped in, sectionpwhich register with a A metal band 33;

'jet member 5|, is provided for conducting air to the jet, member 5].. 'The air flowing out of an relongated-orificei l of the jet member 5! flows in :athin sheet form over the surface of the headpiece in front ofthe face of the wearer thu preventing moisture condensation upon said surface,

low the partition M. Then during the inhaling interval of breathing, this check valve 63 is in similarlyfshaped recess'34 in the'ring l9, retains the partitionfl l under a slightly stressed oondi-E, tion by a clamping action, when secured in place byscrew fasteners. 35 extending through corre-- sponding spaced-apart aperturesinthe band 33 and partition "l4 and, engaging with similarly spaced-apart threaded openings in the ring 19.

It is to be understood that other means for at-" tachingflthe partition M to the ring I 9 may be utilized withoutdeparting from the scope of :the

Referring 1, 2 and 3, a plurality of aper-- tures in the partition I 4 are provided at the inner face of the metalring IQ for an air intake conduit,

40, an'oxygen conduit 4|, an exhaled air conduit 42,,and, electrical conductor s43 and 44 for a throatjmicr-ophone 45 and ear-phones 46. Suitablereinforcement 4 1 to 49 inclusivesuch as rubber-coated fabric cemented in place, may be provided foremaintaining a substantially tight fit between the, respective conduits 40,1 and 42 and conductors 43and44 and the, partition l4; likewise afabric reinforcement 50 may be provided forfacilitating mounting the check valve l5.

' It is desirable for convenience to extend the air intake conduit '49 and the oxygen conduit 4! e, through the diaphragm l4 at'the central front ofthe moisture being, primarily, that which is evaporated from the exposed portion of the face and,

secondarily, that which is contained in the intake airf- M To maintain the"=-z7ater vapor content of the air within the headpiece l l at a minimum, the exhaled air containing,v an appreciable quantity of water vapor, or a considerable part of it, is conducted from a mask 56 by the conduit 42 and exhausted into the torso portion l2 below the partitioning'diaphragm. [4 through a flap valve 51. The valve 51 is'closed during the inhaling period and open during the exhaling period. Al-

ternately,.and under certain'conditions, it i fea sibleand. may be desirable to have the oxygen conduit 4| :serve alsopas the exhaled airconduit thereby eliminating the conduit 42,and flapvalve 51, in which case a suitable check valve 63'may be provided in the conduit 4! portion extendingbe the closed position; but during the exhaling in-- terval it is in theopen'position permitting the major part-0f the exhaled airto escape into the torso portion l2 below the partition l4.

Such an alternative arrangement is permissiare provided to'fregulate the flow of oxygen according to'the demand of the wearer ofathe suit. In the operation of the invention, the wearer, clothed in suitable undergarments, dons the lower portion of the suit [0 including the torso portion [2. Then he positions the ring structure I3 including the partition l4 adjacent the torso I2 7 The stretchable material of the partition l4 permitsthe margin I! of the opening [6 tov conform readily to thechanges in contour of the head and V to embrace the neck in substantially sealing relation without harmful constriction and 'discom toggle fastener structure 29 are placed in the closed position, securely uniting the suit and the ring in a fluid-tight manner,

The lower ends or the air intake conduits!) r and the oxygen conduit 41 are connected to suitableconnectorstructures (not shown) which are interconnected through the wall of the torsopor-' Matter tion with sourcesof supply orpressurizedair and oxygen. The lower portion of the conduit 42 .and the flap valve 5:! are disposed "below the partition I4 and, preferably, adjacent theback ofzthe wearer. The microphone .45 and the earphones 46 are connected by'pl-ug members 58 and teen exterior communication hookup (not shown).

The wearer next dons 'thehelmet iG-fl including the earphones 46, and secures the microphon 45 in contact with his neck by a suitable strap'and fastener means. The upper ends of the oxygen conduit 4| and the exhaled airconduit 42 above the partition l4 are connected tothemask 56, and then the mask is positioned over the nose and a mouth of the wearer, as shown inFig. '1, by means of straps 6| attached to the helmet '60. The conduits 4| and 42 and the conductors 43 and 44 arein a slack condition to permit turning movement of the head of the wearer. a iinal step, the-wearer places the headpiece over his head and positions it in contact with the ring structure l3, as described previously. Then the toggle fastener 25 is placed in the locked position, which causes the clamping ring 2| to engage the flange [8 of the headpiece I I, thus uniting effectively the headpiece and the ring struc ture in a fluid-tightmanner.

Oxygen is supplied to the wearer in ace I with his requirements as determined by the altitude of flight and his energy expenditure; and it flows upwardly in the conduit 4| to the mask 56 during the inhaling period, the flap valve 51 being closed. Suitable valve means in the aforesaid connector structure ,for the conduit 41 functions to shut ofi the oxygen supply at the beginnin of the exhaling period, while the flap valve 51 in the conduit 42 opens coincidentally to exhaust a considerable part of the exhaled air into the torso portion l2 below the partition 14, any remaining part being retained in the conduits 4| and 42, and being' re-breathed subsequently. In this way the exhaled air, which contains an appreciable proportion of water vapor, is prevented by the partition H from diffusing inte the-atmosphere within the headpiece ll; consequently one of the two major causes of fog in is eliminated efiectively,

Air under pressure and, preferably, of, low relative humidity is admitted into the conduit. 40 and flows upwardly therein through the .dia-i phraem l4 to the channel 52 in the ring I9, and then flows to and out of the jet member 5| into the space in the headpiece l-l above the dia hragm. The elongated orifice 54 of the jet member 5l directs a wide, thin stream of air generally in the direction along the wall of the-headpiece in front of the face of the wearer, effectively preventin fogging at this portion of the headpiece.

After flowing beyond the region of the face,

the air diffuses and circulates to a limited extent 4 within the headpiece ll, after which it is discharged therefrom through the check valve I5 into the space in the torso l2 below the diaphragm l4. 'Moisture, which is evaporated from the surface of the exposedparts of the head, is carried away by the incoming air andrapidly exhausted through the check'valve l5 intothe torso l2. Exhaled air and pressurized .airare exhaust ed from the lower portion l2 below the diaphragm H by a suitable pressure responsive means (not shown) in the Wall of the suit. The air circulation plus rapid moisture disposal prevents fogging of the remaining surface of'the headpiece.

Since the air circulates to a limited extent within the headpiece, an objectionable cool draft rdance 7 It will'be apparent-from the hereina'bove description that my invention providesior substantially confining and isolating the water vapor from two principal sources from the space within the headpiece. These two sources are evaporation of moisture from the torso and limbs of the wearer, and moisture contained in the exhaled air. Then, too, the water vapor due to evaporation of moisture from the exposed portions of the head, and the water vapor contained in the intake air under pressura bothof which are-comparati-vel-y small in quantity, are removed exped-itiously from the headpiece and discharged into the torso portion below the partitioning diaphragm. All of which, in combination with the jet action and aircirculation'previously described, prevent fogging of the headpiece in an efiective manner.

Variations may be made without departing fromthe scopeof the invention as it is defined in the following claims:

r I claim: 1

1. In an inflatable suit including a headpiece and. a torso portion, the combination of a ring structure uniting said headpiece and said torso portion, a flexible diaphragm supported by said ring and havinga plurality of spaced-apart apertures, one of which has a margin adapted to embrace the neck of thewearer in substantially sealing relation, a fluid conduit inanother of said apertures, and jet means in still anotherof said apertures adjacent said ring structurejfor' discharging fluid within said headpiece.

2. In an inflatablesuit including a headpiece and a torso portion, in combination, a ring structure uniting saidh'eadpiece and said torso portion, a flexible partition of rubber-dike material supported by said ring structure and having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, oneof which has a margin adapted to embrace the neck of the wearer in substantially sealing relation, a fluid conduit in another of said apertures, jet

means in still another of said apertures for discharging fluid within said headpiece, pressure-responsive means for exhausting fluid from the headpiece into the torso portion of the suit, and an electrical conductor in still another of said apertures.

3.. In an inflatable suit including a headpiece and a torso portion, in combination, a ring struc ture having an inner and an outer face, a flexible p rtit on cluding rubber-l k ma eria u ed to said ring structure and having an aperture for receiving the neck of the wearer in u s an y sealing relation therewith, means for securing said torso portion to said ring stru t re at one of said races, and means or secu i g said. head piece to said rin structure at the other said face including meansi'or detachingthe said headpiece while leaving fully intact the attaciunent oi said partition and said torso portion to said ring structure.

4. In an inflatable suit including a headpiece and a torso portion, in combination, a ring. struc- In an inflatable;suit-including a headpiece and a torso portion, in combination, a ring structure having an inner andan outer face, means for independently and detachably engaging said headpiece in a'fluid-tight, manner with saidring structure at one of said faces, means for independently and detachably engaging said torso portion in a fluid-tight manner with said ring.

structure at the other-oi-said faces, a partition supported by and secured to-saidring'structure for substantiallyisolating the space within said headpiece from the space within said torso portion and said partition having an opening therein which has a margin vadapted to embrace, the neck of the" wearer insubstantially sealing v relation, the attachment of said partition to said ring structure remaining fully intact during the independent detachment of eachsaid headpiece and torso portion from said ring'structure, and conduit means extending through and beyond each face of said partition and being adapted for permitting continuityof free flow in either direction with respect to said partition;

6. In an inflatable suit including a body portion and a headpiece with a transparent portion, in combination, a rin structure uniting said body portion and said headpiece, a diaphragm secured to said ring structure and substantiallyisolating said body portion from said headpiece, jet means extending through an aperture in said diaphragm and including dischargin means extending upwardly relative to 1 said diaphragm; in spacedapart relation to said headpiece adjacent. said transparent portion for, discharging fluid across said transparentportionyand exhaust means for conductingfluid through said" diaphragm from within-"said headpiece towsaid body portion and 7 including a fluid conduit extending through and beyond said diaphragm into said body-portion for dischargin fluid into the space within said body portion. v v

7. In an inflatable suit including a body portion and a headpiece with a transparent portion, in combination, a ring structure uniting said body portion andsaid headpiece,-a diaphragm supported by said ringstructure substantially isolating' saidbody portion from said headpiece, jet means extending through an'aperture in said diaphragm and including discharging means extending upwardly relative to said diaphragm in 's'paced apart relation to and generally conforminglyalong the .wall of "said headpiece adjacent said transparent portion for discharging fluid in substantially thin sheet form across said transparentportionwithin said headpiece, and pressure responsive means'for exhausting fluid from within said'headpiece .into saidtorso portion; 8. "Inaninflatable suit including'a headpiece and a torso'portion, in combination, a ring struc- 4o V V 7 tion and aheadpiecewith a transparent portion,

ture uniting said headpiece and said torso "portion, a flexible partition supported by and secured to said ring structure and having a plurality, of spaced-apart apertures, one of said apertures having a margin adapted to tembrace theineck of the wearer in substantially sealing relation, an intake fluid conduit "of. substantially unrestricted bore extending through-a second aperture and beyond each side of said partition and adapted for freely conducting fluid therethrough in either direction with respect to said partition,- an exhaustvfluid conduit of substantially unrestricted bore extending through andbey-ond a third aperture and adapted for freelyconducting fluid in either direction with respect to said partition, said v exhaust fluid conduit terminating at one; end thereof within said torso portion, valve means atsaid end for exhausting fluid from said exhaust conduit into the space within said torso portion,

and a breathing mask positionablev within said headpiece and carried solely by the head ofthe wearer and being in-communicationwith said fluid conduits. e

9. Inan inflatable suit including a-headpiece and a torso portion, in combination, a ring struc-i I ture-uniting said headpiecevandrsaid torso por-, tion, a flexible partition supported by said ring structure and having'a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, one of. said apertures havingia margin 1 adaptedto embrace the neck of the v'vearer in substantially sealing relationand the other apertures ,being'adjacentsaidring structure and positioned within the boundaries of a circumferentially exten'dingzone of relativelysmall extent as compared to that of said partition, 'a fluid con-1 duit in onev of said other apertures, jet means in another of said other apertures for discharging fluid withinsaid headpiecaandan electrical con, ductorin still another of said other apertures, 10.111 an inflatable suitincluding a body ore in combination, a ring structure having'an inner and an outer face unitinggsaid body portion and said di phragm and having la circumferentially extending depression insaid inner face rneans '7 disposed in said depression 'in said inner face for detachably engaging said headpiece with: said ringstructure at said inner face, means for detachably engaging said body portioriwith said ring structure "at said outer face, a flexible dia phragm of rubber-likematerial supported by and secured toisai d ring structure and havingla plurality of spaced apart apertures, one of which has a margin adapted toembrace theneck of the wearer in' substantially'sealing relation and the other apertures being positioned within the boundaries of a' circumferentiallyextending zone adjacent said ring structure, said zonebeing of relatively small extent as compared to that of said diaphragm, an intake fluid conduit'inone of said other apertures, an exhaust fluid" conduit in a second said other aperture, jet means in' a third'said other aperture for discharging fluid within said headpiece, an electrical conductor in a fourth said other aperture, pressure responsive meansforexhaustingfluid from th headpiece into said body, portion, and a preath ng' mask 'p'o-' sitionable within said'headpieceand carried sole- 1y by'thef head of ,the wearer'and being in comm cst o w "sa d, i a e. and s i xha st 7 ffii s l-ii CO LEY... 

